|
|
|
Voluntary Arts England > news > current news
Managers of volunteers undervalued and underfunded - new research published - posted 31.8.2010
A new report published today reveals the need for more training and development for managers of volunteers. It shows that nearly half of people who manage volunteers have not received any training that would help them in their work.
The report, Valuing Volunteer Management, canvassed opinion from over 1000 third sector organisations, and was commissioned by Skills - Third Sector, the charity working to make it easier for people in charities and social enterprises to have people with the right skills. The report highlights that, despite the availability of training, advice and support, people who manage volunteers are not aware of how to access this. This is especially true of those managing volunteers in smaller organisations, as with low incomes or few members of staff they often exist in isolation.
Key findings:
• 42% of people who manage volunteers have not received any training that would help in their work with volunteers
• members of networks were considerably more likely to access training and support than those who weren't members - 74 % compared to 49 %
• there is strong demand for additional training and skills development across the range of functions outlined in the National Occupational Standards in the management of volunteers.
• many organisations rely greatly on the local and national volunteering infrastructure for advice and support, particularly on local Volunteer Centres
The report also calls for further research to explore:
• the trend towards using volunteers to manage other volunteers
• the differing skills sets required for managing volunteers in different sizes of organisations
Download 'Valuing Volunteer Management Skills' report (PDF)
Your guide to organising a street party or fete - posted 31.8.2010
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has announced a ban on the reams of forms, high costs and red tape getting in the way of communities organising street parties and summer fetes.
From now on, instead of organisers being met with endless, confusing guidelines on food licences, road closures and insurance - councils can ask street party organisers to complete one simple form.
Previously, some small community groups were asked to apply for up to five separate licences and found it tricky to get upfront advice on what to do. They also found out about hidden costs right at the last minute, causing delays or cancellations to community events.
The 'Your guide to organising a street party or fete' form is available at http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/streetpartyguide.
National Youth Agency rewards successful participation with young people - posted 31.8.2010 
Organisations that put young people’s participation at the heart of service delivery and development are being given the chance to apply for a new award.
The National Youth Agency Hear by Right Award has been developed to help organisations that take the voice of young people seriously showcase their achievements and the contribution of the young people they work with.
The Hear by Right Award has been designed to be flexible and can be accessed at any of the three levels – Bronze, Silver or Gold. Organisations applying for the Award measure themselves against different indicators across each of the seven Hear by Right Standards, depending on which level they want to achieve.
To find out more about Hear by Right and the new Award, visit www.nya.org.uk/quality/hear-by-right or sign up to a half day Hear By Right Bitesized and Badgeable workshop at www.nya.org.uk/events
source: ENYAN Why the Arts Matter - posted 31.8.2010
Arts Council England is leading a campaign on just ‘why the arts matter’ highlighting to MPs and Ministers how the arts sector represents a great investment; boosting tourism, the creative industries and contributing to the social and community agenda, all for the equivalent of 17p per person per week, They have produced a useful toolkit, listing arguments to protect the arts and a guide to working with MPs.
Mary Lowe, England Coordinator has used some of the arguments to focus on the voluntary arts in a letter to Nick Brown, MP for Newcastle East. Write to your MP and encourage your members to do so to keep the arts on the political agenda.
More: www.artscouncil.org.uk/about-us/why-arts-matter
Classic FM Searches for Music Teacher of the Year 2010 - posted 31.8.2010  deadline: 4 October 2010
Classic FM has teamed up with Avid Sibelius, Yamaha and Music for Youth once again to recognise and reward the nation’s most inspirational music teachers.
This is your chance to nominate a music teacher who you know always gives 100% to their pupils and instils passion for their subject to a new generation of music lovers.
As well as recognising primary and secondary school music teachers, the awards also pay tribute to peripatetic music teachers, those who work with children with special needs and newly qualified music teachers. And for those who have made music teaching their life's work, there's an award for Lifetime Achievement.
The closing date for nominations is 4 October 2010 and the awards will be presented at the Music For Youth Schools Proms over three nights at the Royal Albert Hall on 8 – 10 November 2010.
More: http://bit.ly/d7PM8i
source: MusicLeader Guide - Careers in Dance - posted 31.8.2010
Do you want a career in dance but not necessarily performing and unsure of your options? Youth Dance England have put together a user-friendly guide to Careers in Dance which highlights the various professions in the industry.
This is a great resource for teachers and youth dance leaders who are providing careers advice to young dancers and also for the young dancers themselves.
Please follow the link below to the YDE website and download the guide.
www.yde.org.uk/main.cfm?Type=CPDF
source: Theatre Works Community Cinema Volunteers Club Together in London - posted 31.8.2010 area: Institut Français, London
dates: 18-19 September 2010
On 18-19 September 2010 volunteers from community cinemas across the UK will gather in London for the National Conference for Community Cinemas and the Film Society of the Year Awards, organised by the British Federation of Film Societies (BFFS).
Focusing on the theme of Film Education, the weekend’s activities will comprise training sessions, film screenings and networking opportunities – culminating in the Film Society of the Year Awards ceremony, at which delegates and special guests will celebrate the hard work and achievements of community cinema volunteers throughout the past year.
This year’s Film Society of the Year Awards will be presented by Francine Stock – writer, broadcaster and presenter of Radio 4’s The Film Programme, and esteemed film critic and BFFS President Derek Malcolm. The National Conference will be held at the Institut Français in London’s South Kensington, where sessions comprising expert panels, hands-on workshops and peer-to-peer discussions will strengthen the role of the community cinema in bringing film education to wider audiences across the UK.
Delegates will be treated to film screenings in the beautifully refurbished Ciné Lumière. Confirmed titles include delicate Peruvian drame Undertow (Contracorriente), a pre-release screening of eye-opening documentary Countdown to Zero, a special screening of the French classic La Règle du jeu and Hidden Herstories – a compilation of inspirational short films about exceptional women made by young filmmakers in a project coordinated by the Octavia Foundation. Each screening will be accompanied by examples of best practice in film education – including introductions, discussions, Q&As with special guests, programme notes and audience reaction assessment.
The National Conference 2010 is sponsored by non-theatrical distributors Filmbank. The Film Society of the Year Awards is sponsored by independent copyright licensing agency Motion Picture Licensing Company (MPLC). Event supporters include UK Film Council, Institut Français and Sheffield Hallam University.
The BFFS National Conference is the only national event dedicated to the needs and interests of film societies and not-for-profit community cinemas. It is the annual opportunity for the community cinema sector to get together, share ideas and celebrate community exhibition.
To find out more, or to book a place, go to http://bffs.org.uk/newsandevents/news/natconfbookings.html
One-stop source for UK legislation - posted 31.8.2010 
A new official website provides access to UK legislation from 1267 to the present. Legislation.gov.uk brings together legislative content from Office of Public Sector Information and the Statute Law Database. Managed by the National Archives it aims to provide access to current and historic laws in a ‘clear and simple’ format.
www.legislation.gov.uk
source: VolResource Learning clubs and learning groups – practical workshop on supporting self organised learning - posted 31.8.2010  area: Leicester
dates: 29 October 2010
Learning activities come in many forms and one part of the rich mix is clubs and groups which run their own learning activities. These learning clubs and ‘self organised’ groups take many forms – from the well known and well-established such as the University of the Third Age to small local groups set up by friends and neighbours with a common interest. They may be music groups, book clubs, health or environmental groups, photographic or craft groups, motorcycle or walking clubs – what they all have in common is that people are coming together to enjoy learning new skills and activities.
This workshop, from NIACE, aims to:
• provide an opportunity for participants to share ideas on different approaches to supporting groups and clubs which plan their own learning;
• introduce participants to resources which can help them and the groups that they support including how to find meeting spaces and how to get the best from technology.
For more information, to download an application form or to reserve a place online, visit the NIACE website at www.niace.org.uk/campaigns-events/events/learning-clubs-and-learning-groups.
Public liability insurance for smaller organisations - posted 31.8.2010
Public liability insurance for small voluntary organisations and community groups which costs less than £10 a month or £75 a year has been developed by Zurich Insurance in collaboration with sector support umbrella NAVCA and charity specialists Tennyson Insurance.
More: www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/1019278/
source: Volresource |
|
